Editor Sara Connolly Illustrator Kevin McCarthy Cover Artist Brenda DiAntonis Managing Editor Ina Massler Levin, M.A Creative Director Karen J Goldfluss, M.S Ed Art Production Manager Kevin Barnes Art Coordinator Renée Christine Yates Imaging Rosa C See Publisher Mary D Smith, M.S Ed Author Debra J Housel, M.S Ed The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only Reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher Teacher Created Resources, Inc 6421 Industry Way Westminster, CA 92683 www.teachercreated.com ISBN: 978-1-4206-8374-5 © 2007 Teacher Created Resources, Inc Reprinted, 2009 Made in U.S.A Introduction Table of Contents The Klondike Gold Rush 55 About This Book The Race to the South Pole 58 Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy A Risky Sea Journey 61 Practice Suggestions Conquering Mount Everest 64 Standardized Test Success Around the World in 71 Days 67 Standards and Benchmarks Amazing Discoveries True Survival Stories Anesthesia 70 Determined to Go Home 10 Genes 73 Doomed Pioneers: The Donner Party 13 Vitamins 76 Shipwrecked in Antarctica 16 Antibiotics 79 Against All Odds 19 The Dead Sea Scrolls 82 “Houston, We’ve Had a Problem” 22 Qin’s Terracotta Army 85 Head Downhill and Follow the Water 25 Interesting Places Adrift in the Pacific Ocean 28 Egypt: One Nation on Two Continents 88 Incredible Disasters Liberia, Named for Freedom 91 Chicago: Gone in a Puff of Smoke 31 Mexico, Land of Corn 94 The Great White Hurricane 34 The Triangle Shirtwaist Tragedy 37 The Netherlands: Land of Windmills, Bicycles, and Tulips 97 The Flu Pandemic of 1918 40 North Korea 100 The World’s Worst Tornado 43 Nunavut, Land of the Inuit 103 The Great Alaskan Earthquake 46 Answer Key 106 Great Adventures The Journey that Proved Earth was Round 49 Wild Ride Down the Colorado River 52 #8374 Document-Based Questions ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Introduction About This Book The primary goal of any reading task is comprehension Document-Based Questions for Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking uses high-interest grade-level nonfiction passages, related documents, and critical thinking assessment practice to help you develop confident readers who can demonstrate their skills on standardized tests In addition, you will build the comprehension skills necessary for a lifetime of learning There are five topic areas with six or seven lessons in each Each lesson consists of three pages: a passage, a related document, and an assessment practice page containing multiple choice, true/false— explain, and short-answer document-based questions This gives your students practice in all of the question types used in standardized testing The students respond to the document-based questions based on the information gleaned from the passage plus its related document Such questions improve a student’s ability to apply prior knowledge, integrate information, and transfer knowledge to a new situation Readability These passages have a 4.0–4.9 reading level based on the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Formula This formula, built into Microsoft® Word™, determines readability by calculating the number of words, syllables, and sentences Average readability was determined for each of the five topic areas The topics are presented in order of increasing difficulty The documents are not leveled Many of them are historical pieces and therefore replicated with the exact wording Some terminology may be challenging, but your students can handle difficult words within the context given Preparing Students to Read Nonfiction Text One of the best ways to prepare students to read expository text is to read a short selection aloud to them daily Reading expository text aloud is critical to developing your students’ ability to read it themselves Since making predictions is another way to make students tap into their prior knowledge, read the beginning of a passage, then stop, and ask them to predict what might occur next Do this at several points throughout your reading of the text By doing this, over time you will find that your students’ ability to make accurate predictions increases Your questions will help students, especially struggling readers, focus on what’s important in a text Also, remember the significance of wait time Research has shown that the amount of time an educator waits for a student to answer after posing a question has a critical effect on learning So after you ask a student a question, silently count to five (ten if you have a student who really struggles to put his or her thoughts into words) before giving any additional prompts or redirecting the question to another student Talking about nonfiction concepts is also important Remember, however, that discussion can never replace reading aloud because people rarely speak using the vocabulary and complex sentence structures of written language ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc #8374 Document-Based Questions Introduction Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy The questions on the assessment practice pages in Document-Based Questions for Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking assess all levels of learning in Bloom’s Taxonomy Benjamin Bloom devised this six-level classification system for comprehension questions The questions on each assessment practice passage are always presented in this order They progress from easiest to most challenging • Level 1: Knowledge—Students recall information or can find requested information in an article They recognize dates, events, places, people, and main ideas • Level 2: Comprehension—Students understand information This means that they can find information that is stated in a different way than the question It also means students can rephrase or restate information in their own words • Level 3: Application—Students apply their knowledge to a specific situation They may be asked to something new with the knowledge • Level 4: Analysis—Students break things into their component parts and examine those parts They notice patterns in information • Level 5: Synthesis—Students something new with the information They integrate knowledge and create new ideas They generalize, predict, plan, and draw conclusions • Level 6: Evaluation—Students make judgments and assess value They form an opinion and defend it They can also understand another person’s viewpoint These skills are essential to keep in mind when teaching comprehension to assure that your students practice the higher levels of thinking Use this classification to form your own questions whenever your students read or listen to material Assessment Practice Pages Teach your students to read the passage and its related document before answering any of the questions on the assessment practice page Armed with this information, your students can more rapidly and accurately answer each question Multiple Choice Questions The first three questions are multiple choice Based solely on the information given in the passage, they cover the knowledge, comprehension, and application levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy For these questions, demonstrate your own thought process by doing a “think aloud” to figure out an answer Tell your students your thoughts as they come to you For example, suppose the question was: “In Yellowstone National Park, grizzly bears (a) tricks, (b) roam free, (c) stay in cages, or (d) get caught in traps.” Tell the students all your thoughts as they occur to you: “Well, the grizzly bears living in Yellowstone National Park are wild bears So of course they don’t tricks And it didn’t mention that they stay in cages They probably only that in zoos or circuses So I’ll get rid of choices A and C That leaves me with ‘roam free’ or ‘get caught in traps.’ Let me look back at the passage and see what it says about traps.” (Refer back to article.) #8374 Document-Based Questions ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Introduction Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy (cont.) Multiple Choice Questions (cont.) “I don’t see anything about traps in the passage And I did see that it says that in Yellowstone National Park the bears are protected and their population is increasing That means they’re safe from traps, which are dangerous So I’m going to select (b)—roam free.” True/False—Explain Questions The fourth question is true false—explain It tests the analysis level of Bloom’s Taxonomy This question may require students to use information from both the passage and the document to generate an answer Just a one- or two-sentence response is required To respond correctly, the student must not only distinguish facts from falsehoods but also explain them This requires logical reasoning and analytical thinking They cannot receive full credit without an adequate explanation You must demonstrate how to write a good explanation For example, in response to the statement: “Thomas Jefferson wrote the Gettysburg Address,” the students could write, “False Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address” OR “False Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.” Either answer is acceptable and worth full credit When the statement is clearly true, the student must state that and add information For example, in response to the statement: “Early pioneers in the Midwest had to cope with grasshopper plagues,” the students should write, “True The grasshoppers destroyed crops and even damaged buildings.” Make sure that your students know that sometimes both “true” and “false” responses can be correct For example, in an article about rescuing Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto, it states how hard it was to convince the parents to let the rescue organization take away their children It also details the methods used to get the kids past the guards (crawling through sewers, sedated babies in toolboxes) In response to the question, “ During the rescue operation, the most difficult part was getting the parents to release their kids to the rescuers,” some students may respond “True Many parents did not want to let their children go They were not sure that the children were in danger and thought that they could protect them.” But others may say, “False The hardest part was getting the kids out of the Ghetto without the Gestapo discovering what was going on.” Either response is worth full credit because it is adequately defended This promotes critical thinking since the students must digest the information in order to take a stance Document-Based Questions The remaining questions require the students to integrate the information provided in the passage with the information shown in the document You must guide your students in understanding and responding to the document-based questions Again, the best way to teach such skills is to demonstrate how the formulation of an answer is achieved through a think aloud ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc #8374 Document-Based Questions Introduction Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy (cont.) Short-Answer Questions The fifth and sixth questions test the synthesis and evaluative levels of Bloom’s taxonomy Synthesis questions make your students draw conclusions based on information gleaned from both the passage and its document Their response requires only a few sentences Show your students how to restate the words from the question to formulate a cogent response For example, in response to “Why were some people against the building of the Hoover Dam?” the students could write, “Some people were against the building of the Hoover Dam because it backed up a river, forming a huge lake Historical Native American sites were flooded and animals’ homes destroyed.” The final short answer question will be evaluative—the highest level of Bloom’s taxonomy This means that it is an opinion statement with no right answer Evaluative questions demand the highest thinking and logical reasoning skills The child must take a stance and defend it Although there is no correct response, it is critical that the students support their opinions using facts and logic Show them a format for the defense—by stating their opinion followed by the word “because” and a reason For example, have a student respond to this question “Do you think that whales should be kept in aquariums and sea parks for people to enjoy?” The student may respond, “I not think that whales should be kept at sea parks because they are wild animals and don’t want to be there They want to be free in the ocean.” Do not award full credit unless the student adequately supports his or her opinion Sample defenses are given for the evaluative questions, but students may present other valid opinions as well Also, it would be most effective if you used the defenses written by the students themselves Thus, before passing back the practice papers, make note of two children who had opposing opinions Then, during the wrap-up discussion, call on each of these students to read his or her defense to the class If all the children had the same conclusion, give the opposing opinion from the answer key to show them both sides of the issue When it’s obvious that a topic has generated strong opinions in your students, you can encourage your class to debate #8374 Document-Based Questions ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Introduction Practice Suggestions Read aloud the first passage in each of the five topic areas and its related questions with the whole class Such group practice is essential The more your students practice, the more competent and confident they will become Plan to have your class every exercise in the Document-Based Questions for Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking The activities are time-efficient so that your students can practice each week To yield the best results, practice must begin at the start of the school year If you have some students who cannot read the articles independently, allow them to read with a partner, then work through the comprehension questions alone Eventually all students must practice reading and answering the questions independently Move to this stage as soon as possible For the most effective practice sessions, follow these steps: Have students read the text silently and answer the questions Have students exchange papers to correct each other’s multiple choice section Collect all the papers to score the short answer questions Return the papers to their owners and discuss how the students determined their answers Refer to the exact wording in the passage Point out how students had to use their background knowledge to answer certain questions Discuss the document-based questions thoroughly Do think-alouds to show how you integrated information from the passage and the document to formulate your response Discuss how a child should defend his or her stance in an evaluative short-answer question Scoring the Assessment Practice Passages To generate a numeric score, follow these guidelines: Multiple Choice questions (3) 12 points each 36 points True/False–Explain question (1) 16 points 16 points Short-answer questions (2) 24 points 48 points ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Total 100 points #8374 Document-Based Questions Introduction Standardized Test Success A key objective of Document-Based Questions for Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking is to prepare your students to get the best possible scores on standardized tests You may want to practice environmental conditions throughout the year in order to get your students used to the testing environment For example, if your students’ desks are usually together, have students move them apart whenever you practice so it won’t feel strange on the test day A student’s ability to well on traditional standardized tests on comprehension requires these good test-taking skills Thus, every student in your class needs instruction in test-taking skills Even fluent readers and logical thinkers will perform better on standardized tests if you provide instruction in these areas: • Understanding the question: Teach students to break down the question to figure out what is really being asked of them This book will prepare them for the kinds of questions they will encounter on standardized tests • Concentrating on what the text says: Show students how to restrict their response to just what is asked When you go over the practice passages, ask your students to show where they found the correct response or inference in the text • Ruling out distracters in multiple choice answers: Teach students to look for the key words in a question and look for those specific words to find the information in the text They also need to know that they may have to look for synonyms for the key words • Maintaining concentration: Use classroom time to practice this in advance Reward students for maintaining concentration Explain to them the purpose of this practice and the reason why concentration is so essential Students will need to use test-taking skills and strategies throughout their lives The exercises in Document-Based Questions for Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking will guide your students to become better readers and test-takers After practicing the exercises in this book, you will be pleased with your students’ comprehension performance, not only on standardized tests, but with any expository text they encounter—within the classroom and beyond its walls #8374 Document-Based Questions ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Introduction Standards and Benchmarks Listed below are the McREL standards for Language Arts Level II (grades 3–5) All standards and benchmarks are used with permission from McREL Kendall, J S., & Marzano, R J (2004) Content knowledge: A compendium of standards and benchmarks for K-12 education Aurora, CO: Midcontinent Research for Education and Learning Online database: http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/ McREL Standards are in bold Benchmarks are in regular print All lessons meet the following standards and benchmarks STANDARD Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process Level II Benchmark Makes, confirms, and revises simple predictions about what will be found in a text (e.g., uses prior knowledge and ideas presented in text, illustrations, titles, topic sentences, key words, and foreshadowing clues) Benchmark Understands level-appropriate reading vocabulary (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, homophones, multi-meaning words) Benchmark 10 Understands the author’s purpose (e.g., to persuade, to inform) or point of view STANDARD Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts Level II Benchmark Benchmark Benchmark Uses reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of informational texts (e.g., textbooks, biographical sketches, letters, diaries, directions, procedures, magazines) Summarizes and paraphrases information in texts (e.g., includes the main idea and significant supporting details of a reading selection) Uses prior knowledge and experience to understand and respond to new information STANDARD Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process Level II Benchmark Benchmark Uses strategies (e.g., adapts focus, point of view, organization, form) to write for a variety of purposes (e.g., to inform, entertain, explain, describe, record ideas) Writes expository compositions (e.g., identifies and stays on the topic; develops the topic with simple facts, details, examples, and explanations; excludes extraneous and inappropriate information; uses structures such as cause-and-effect, chronology, similarities and differences; uses several sources of information; provides a concluding statement) ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc #8374 Document-Based Questions Interesting Places The Netherlands: Land of Windmills, Bicycles, and Tulips Tour Amsterdam There’s so much to see and in Amsterdam! Here are just a few highlights that await you: Tour a working diamond factory and watch master diamond cutters cut and polish these valuable gems Climb the stairs to the top of a working 250-year-old windmill on the river Amstel See the Anne Frank House It is just as it was when she, her family, the van Pel family, and Fritz Pfeffer hid from the Nazis Tour the royal palace Built in the 1600s, this beautiful building now serves as Amsterdam’s city hall Her Majesty the Queen still uses parts of it for official functions The palace houses a large collection of Empirestyle furnishings and chandeliers #8374 Document-Based Questions 98 Visit the Van Gogh Museum, home of the largest collection of paintings by world-famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Interesting Places The Netherlands: Land of Windmills, Bicycles, and Tulips Another name for the Netherlands is a Amsterdam b Dutch c Holland d Rotterdam The amount of land that has not been reclaimed from the North Sea is about a 30 percent c 50 percent b 40 percent d 60 percent Why so many of the Dutch people ride bicycles? a It is an easy way to get c Bicycles were invented in the Netherlands around because there aren’t any hills b Few of them can afford cars d Because so much of the land has been reclaimed from the sea, there are few roads that are wide enough for cars The people of the Netherlands have occasionally used its dikes for defense True or False? Explain _ _ _ Name the five tourist attractions listed in the travel brochure and state which one you’d most like to see and why. _ _ _ _ _ If you lived in the Netherlands would you rather use a bicycle or a car? Tell why _ _ _ _ _ ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc 99 #8374 Document-Based Questions Interesting Places North Korea North Korea is an Asian nation It is bordered on two sides by water The Sea of Japan lies to the east The Yellow Sea lies to the west There are many hills The weather can be cold Very little land can have crops Yet the people of North Korea cannot leave their country If they have relatives in South Korea, they cannot see them The border is closed They cannot cross it Korea was once one nation Then the Japanese seized control of the country But they were defeated in World War II They were forced to leave Then there was a new problem The Soviet Union wanted Korea to have a communist government The United States wanted Korea to be a democracy An agreement was made The 38th parallel* would divide Korea until it could be reunited Why was this made the border? It’s where the Japanese troops surrendered The United Nations decided there should be an election But only the people in the south voted The Soviet Union refused to let in the United Nations workers that came to oversee the election Instead the Soviet Union formed North Korea It made a communist general the nation’s leader Then North Korea attacked South Korea in 1950 Both the United States and the United Nations sent soldiers They wanted to help South Korea They wanted it to stay a free nation China entered the fight on the side of the communists Neither side was winning So a cease-fire agreement was signed in 1953 But a peace treaty was never made However, the war did keep South Korea from falling to the Communists *line of latitude #8374 Document-Based Questions 100 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc 101 A cease-fire agreement is signed and fighting ends June 1953 *Allied forces include United Nations, U.S., and South Korean troops Truce talks begin again April 1953 Truce talks end without solving any issues October 1952 Communist and Allied forces exchange ill and injured prisoners Truce talks start, but fighting continues July 1951 March 1953 Allied forces recapture Seoul Allied forces retreat from strong Chinese attacks November 1950 March 1951 Allied forces occupy Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital Communist China enters the war on the side of North Korea October 1950 Communist forces occupy Seoul U.S ground troops arrive in Korea U.S troops stop the Communist advance Allied* forces occupy Seoul, South Korea’s capital July 1950 September 1950 January 1951 North Korean Communist troops invade South Korea United Nations demands they halt U.S air and naval forces sent to stop invasion June 1950 The Korean War Interesting Places North Korea #8374 Document-Based Questions Interesting Places North Korea What body of water lies to the west of North Korea? a the Atlantic Ocean c the Yellow Sea b the Sea of Japan d the Indian Ocean Which one wanted the nation of Korea to be communist? a the Soviet Union c the Japanese b the United States d the United Nations What happens if a woman has friends living on the opposite side of the 38th parallel? a She is considered a criminal c She can just walk across the border to visit them without needing a pass b She can get a pass to go d She cannot cross the border to visit them across the border to visit them During the Korean War, “allied forces” referred to Soviet and Chinese troops True or False? Explain _ _ _ How much time passed between the invasion of South Korea and the cease-fire agreement which ended the fighting? When did the two sides exchange prisoners? How long was Seoul under Communist control? Use facts from the time line in your answer _ _ _ _ _ Since the Korean War, North Korea and the United States have not been on friendly terms Now North Korea is testing nuclear missiles Should American leaders be concerned? Why or why not? _ _ _ _ #8374 Document-Based Questions 102 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Interesting Places Nunavut, Land of the Inuit Nunavut* covers one-fifth of Canada It became a new territory in 1999 This was done so that the Inuit (Native Americans) who live there could have a selfgoverning homeland It also gave them more say in the Canadian government The capital of Nunavut is Iqaluit It’s the biggest town About 3,600 people live there They speak Inuktitut, French, and English Most of this land lies within the Arctic Circle The area has long, cold winters and short, cool summers It’s called the “Land of the Midnight Sun.” It is so close to the top of Earth that in June, there’s a month with no darkness The sun shines even at midnight! Then, in December there is little or no sunlight The darkness lasts for the whole month Tundra covers Nunavut This means that much of the ground has permafrost Each year just the top layer thaws Permafrost keeps water from draining This creates ponds and bogs Willow shrubs, short grass, and mosses cover much of the land These plants can photosynthesis at low temperatures with long spells of daylight The northern part of Nunavut gets so little rain or snow that it is a polar desert! But the land has natural resources These include diamonds, gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, nickel, and zinc The harsh temperatures, permafrost, and lack of roads make it hard to mine these minerals So most are untapped Some companies are looking for oil The total population is 30,000 Most live near the coast of Hudson Bay and the Labrador Sea The people’s way of life is slowly changing Instead of being roaming seal hunters, many are taking jobs Tourism is growing Nunavut has the second biggest national park in Canada It has mountains, glaciers, lakes, and lots of wildlife Visitors hike, boat, and fish Children go to school through grade 12 The number of people who can read and write is rising More people are completing high school And the Nunavut Arctic College has five campuses Thanks to computers, the people stay in touch with the outside world Each town has phones, radio, and television But no railroads serve the area Based on the season, snowmobiles or planes move people and goods between towns Food that comes from other places costs a lot Milk is $7 a gallon, and an apple is $2! *pronounced NOO nuh voot ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc 103 #8374 Document-Based Questions Interesting Places Nunavut, Land of the Inuit Nunavut Numbers Number Meaning Neat Fact Road It has no name and is 13 miles long 1:100 People per square kilometer of land There’s just one person in every 100 square kilometers! 30:1 Ratio of caribou to humans There are 30 caribou for every person 104 Symbols in the Inuit alphabet Their written language is less than 200 years old -30°C (-25°F) Average temperature in January Brr! Average temperature in July Just 9° F above freezing! 5°C (41°F) Canadian national parks Only the Inuit can hunt within these parks Knight’s Canadian Info Collection “Nunavut and the Inuktitut Language.” http://members.shaw.ca/kcic1/nunavut.html #8374 Document-Based Questions 104 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Interesting Places Nunavut, Land of the Inuit The capital of Nunavut is a Inuit c Canada b Iqaluit d Inuktitut During which month of the year is the sun rarely seen in the sky over Nunavut? a March c September b June d December What is something that Nunavut lacks? a highways c natural resources b wildlife d modern communications (phones, TVs) In order to attend college, the people must leave Nunavut True or False? Explain _ _ _ How many national parks are in Nunavut and who can hunt within them? _ _ _ _ _ Would you prefer to visit Nunavut in January or July? Tell why _ _ _ _ _ ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc 105 #8374 Document-Based Questions Answer Key page 12 d b a True Her sons were taken captive, too OR True Another woman was taken from her settlement at the same time OR True A fellow captive was an old Dutch woman During her return trip, Mary didn’t follow the same path that the Native Americans had taken in the West Virginia area because she and the old Dutch woman had decided to follow the river They had been successful by doing so for most of the way, so they continued along the river Yes, I would have left my daughter and walked almost 800 miles to get home because I think that the baby would’ve been well-cared for (Native Americans often adopted children and raised them as their own) and I would have wanted to return to my spouse and looked for my other children OR No, I would not have left my daughter I would have stayed where I was and hoped that my husband would find and rescue me, or I would have learned to adapt and live the life of a Native American Going so far on foot was very risky and the women almost died page 15 b d c False The Second Relief Group led the settlers out OR False The First Relief Group brought food but did not lead the people out The plaque states that the Breens, Graveses, and Murphys had cabins for shelter during the winter of 1846-47 I think that the people of the Donner party were wrong to eat the dead members I think it would have been better to die than that It’s just plain wrong to eat another person Also, they were shunned by society for the rest of their lives because no one ever forgot what they’d done OR I not think that the people of the Donner party were wrong to eat the dead members It would’ve been wrong if they’d actually killed others in order to eat them But the people were already dead and the others would be, too, if they hadn’t eaten them It was not a matter of choice; it was a matter of survival If the dead people had known that they’d be eaten, they might have been glad to save the lives of the other people in their group page 18 a b c False Shackleton still had to cross a steep mountain range to reach the town OR False Shackleton still had to make four attempts to reach his men on Elephant Island Ernest Shackleton was interested in Antarctica He wrote #8374 Document-Based Questions two books about it (Heart of the Antarctic and South) He also died on his fourth trip to the continent The most amazing part of this survival story is that not one single man died in spite of the many dangers they faced (starvation, cold, leopard seals, etc) OR The most amazing part of this survival story is that Shackleton and his men made it across the stormiest sea on Earth in a rowboat OR The most amazing part of this survival story is that Shackleton and his men landed on the wrong side of the island and had to cross mountains that had never been crossed before in order to reach civilization OR The most amazing part of this survival story is that Shackleton would not give up even though it took him four attempts to reach his men on Elephant Island page 21 d b c True They found water and some food there OR True It was there that they saw the natives who helped them Kennedy and his men suffered through their ordeal during the first week of August 1943 (August 1–2, 1943 is given in the citation as the date of the collision, and the fact that the ordeal lasted six days is given in the article.) Yes, Kennedy’s heroism helped him to win the U.S presidential election 17 years later People heard about what he did and recognized that he was a strong leader He had shown that he made good decisions in a desperate situation OR No, Kennedy’s heroism did not help him to win the U.S presidential election 17 years later People generally read the news or listen to the debates about the issues before the election and make their choice based on the candidate’s responses Something that a person did 17 years before does not really enter into the decision And we don’t even know that the public knew Kennedy’s amazing survival story page 24 c d b True The NASA teams worked out calculations and created a necessary filter The crew worked together to build the filter OR False Brilliance and innovation saved the astronauts It was NASA workers’ ability to figure out when to fire the rockets and how to make a filter from the parts available that saved the crew Three compliments that the movie reviewer includes to encourage readers to see Apollo 13 are: “My money’s on Apollo 13 being the best film this year.” “Don’t be surprised to see multiple Oscar nominations.” “I went in knowing the ending, and it still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat.” “Ron Howard expertly directs Apollo 13.” “Tom Hanks is outstanding in the role of Jim Lovell.” 106 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Answer Key “The rest of the cast gives great performances as well.” “Howard’s use of special effects gives you the feeling that you are there.” “Go see Apollo 13; you’ll be glad you did.” “I guarantee you’d need a heart of stone to get restless.” (Accept any three—if a student includes irrelevant information, put a line through it on the paper and then talk about how irrelevant details detract from the message during your class discussion.) I think that seeing the film would help me to better understand what the astronauts went through because the reviewer says it makes you feel like you’re there suffering with them; I am a visual learner and prefer the movie to the book; it would help me to see the whole picture (in the spaceship and on the ground), etc OR I think that reading the book would help me to better understand what the what the astronauts went through because it was written by someone who actually lived through it; I always prefer the book to the movie; it’s easier for me to imagine myself as part of the situation if I’m reading it; etc page 27 c b a True The hunters took her to a town where she was transported to a hospital OR False Juliane saved herself by following the water to reach the hunters’ shack No, according to the pie graph the top two causes of fatal aviation crashes are pilot error (37%) and unknown (33%) Her crash was caused when lightning hit the plane, so it was caused by weather (7%) The most common cause is pilot error To reduce this type of accident, pilots should have lots of training and plenty of opportunities to handle all potential emergency situations on the ground Perhaps computer simulators could be used to give pilots more extensive training, etc (Accept reasonable ideas that would make pilots better able to deal with emergencies in the air.) page 30 b a d True Van Pham’s radio did not work, so the Coast Guard never had received a call for help OR False The Coast Guard didn’t conduct a search because nobody knew that Van Pham was missing Van Pham’s boat drifted in a south/southeast direction It drifted that way due to the ocean currents and probably wind, too Yes, there should be a law requiring all ocean-going boats to have an EPIRB so that no one ends up in the same situation as Van Pham did Most people would not have been able to survive, so this would be a good way ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc (cont.) to improve safety at sea Also, it would speed up the Coast Guard’s search OR No, there shouldn’t be a law requiring all ocean-going boats to have an EPIRB because it would be too difficult and costly to enforce the law Who would check to be sure that every ocean-going boat had a working EPIRB? Boaters should be made aware of EPIRB, and if they choose to go to sea without one, it’s their right to risk their lives page 33 a d c False Mr Gibbs urges the relief workers not to be generous and to make sure that the people asking for funds are really in need He does not want money given to anyone who is able to provide for himself or herself He wants the money reserved for the aged, infirm, widows, and orphans From the wages listed in the notice, it is clear that men and even boys are paid much more than women It states that carpenters and masons earn $3–$4 a day, laborers $2 a day, and boys $1 a day But women earn $2–$3 for a week of work Yes, the Chicago Relief and Aid Society puts too much of a burden on the poor to prove their need for funds because it may be difficult for them to prove that something is a necessity Not just the old, sick, widows, and orphans needed help Most people did not have any insurance and lost everything OR No, the Chicago Relief and Aid Society does not put too much of a burden on the poor to prove their need for funds because the money has to last a long time People who can earn their own keep must so If the poor have special circumstances (someone looks like they can work but they can’t due to asthma), they need to explain them to the relief workers giving out the funds page 36 d a b False The blizzard was so bad that 200 ships were blown from the Atlantic Ocean into the East Coast One hundred sailors died in these wrecks Milton wore homemade snowshoes to walk on top of the snowdrifts He brought people milk, which is something that most people use daily They were snowed in and couldn’t get to the store themselves They were so grateful that they gave him tips for delivering the milk, and that’s how he got so much money Yes, an identical blizzard would cause as much trouble in New York City today as it did in 1888 There are many homeless people in the city who would freeze to death, and there would be plenty of people who wouldn’t realize the danger of going outdoors The streets would 107 #8374 Document-Based Questions Answer Key be choked with snow, making it hard, if not impossible, for fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances to respond to emergencies OR No, an identical blizzard would not cause as much trouble in New York City today as it did in 1888 Now weather forecasters would tell people ahead of time that a bad storm is coming and advise them to stay indoors Fewer people would lose power and freeze to death in their homes now that the wires run beneath the streets People could still get home on the subway, which would not be affected by the snow-blocked streets page 39 c d b True People were so upset that new laws were passed that required safer working conditions People are in much less danger at work today than they were in 1911 The box-making factory was similar to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory because the workers earned very poor pay ($5 a week for six days of work) and in case of fire there was practically no escape Yes, the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory should have been found guilty of manslaughter because they deliberately locked the second exit They were more concerned with spools of thread than with the safety of their workers Also, they should have known that the fire escape was rotten OR No, the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory should not have been found guilty of manslaughter because they did not set the fire and it was not their fault that the firemen’s hoses and ladders did not reach the upper floors The jury found them innocent of knowing that the doors were kept locked page 42 b a b True These people were more terrified of the high fever, pneumonia, and turning blue and black than they were of death According to the chart, the two diseases that kept occurring were yellow fever and cholera The worst cities to live in were New York City and New Orleans because they had the most outbreaks of these diseases Yes, another pandemic like the one of 1918 could happen in America again because new strains of the flu and new diseases are appearing each year If one was really bad, it might kill a lot of people before the doctors knew how to stop it OR No, another pandemic like the one of 1918 couldn’t happen in America again because now we have medicines to fight diseases If people started getting sick and dying, the doctors could get control of the situation rapidly #8374 Document-Based Questions (cont.) page 45 c a d False A supercell thunderhead can cause a tornado to form, but not always First, an updraft must form a spinning funnel inside the cloud Only if the funnel touches the ground does it turn into a tornado The cold air comes from Canada (or the North Pole), and the warm air comes from the Gulf of Mexico (or the equator) Yes, people should take the time to get family photos to take with them to the shelter because they cannot be replaced Most things in a home can be replaced but not the photos OR No, people should not take the time to get family photos or other valuables before seeking shelter With a tornado, there is little time to spare, and saving people and animals is more important than saving photos or other valuables page 48 d c b False An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 is called major It can wreck railroad rails, cause landslides, and destroy buildings Worldwide there are about 18 of these each year OR False An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 to 6.9 is called strong It can cause destruction about 100 miles across About 120 of these occur worldwide each year The strongest kind of earthquake on the Richter scale is called Rare great and measures 9.0 or more The 1964 Alaskan earthquake is one of these because it measured 9.2 on the Richter scale Yes, I would be afraid to live in an area with earthquakes because they can be deadly; I can’t imagine how scary it must be to have buildings falling down and cracks opening in the ground; there’s not really a “safe place” to go like in other natural disasters; I hate how there is no warning; etc OR No, I would not be afraid to live in an area with earthquakes because bad ones happen so rarely; I already live in an earthquake area and don’t give it much thought; I have lived through earthquakes and they’re not that bad; I feel safe because modern buildings have been built to stand up to earthquakes; etc (Accept any reasonable responses.) page 51 c a c True Several times Magellan’s captains tried to start a mutiny against him Magellan punished these captains He had them killed or put in chains Magellan’s fleet did not sail through the Arctic Ocean or the Southern Ocean They were both out of the way and not part of the most direct route around the world Also, both of those oceans are so cold that they often have 108 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Answer Key icebergs in them (Only the first two sentence concepts are necessary.) Yes, I would have liked to have been a sailor on one of Magellan’s ships that went around the world because I love adventure; I would enjoy sailing; it would have been exciting to discover the Strait of Magellan; etc OR No, I would not have liked to have been a sailor on one of Magellan’s ships that went around the world because so few of the men who set out survived the journey; the sailors had to face hardships like storms at sea and mutiny; the sailors were away from their loved ones for two years; etc (Allow reasonable responses.) which so many horses died and which had narrow ledges; etc page 60 b c d False Robert Scott reached the South Pole one month after Roald Amundsen did OR False Robert Scott reached the South Pole in January 1912 OR False Robert Scott reached the South Pole but failed to return safely His whole team died From Robert Scott’s journal entries, it appears that he and his men died from lack of food/starvation He wrote on March 29 that they had barely had any food since March 22 Yes, if the men had tried to hike the 11 miles to the depot, they would have had a better chance of surviving Amundsen and his team survived a four-day blizzard As it was, they kept waiting for the storm to break until they ran out of fuel and food and were too weak to move OR No, if the men had tried to hike the 11 miles to the depot, they would most probably have died anyway They would’ve gotten too cold from the wind chill and with all the snow in the air they might not have been able to find their way to the depot Also, how could they know that the gale and swirling snow would not let up for many days? They kept hoping that if they waited just a little longer that the storm would break page 54 a d b True They started out with four boats, but one month into the trip, they had lost one of the boats Powell sounds a little worried in his journal entry because they have just a month’s supply of food left and an unknown distance to cover He also talks about the potential dangers up ahead, such as waterfalls and boulders in the channel Yes, I would have liked to have gone on Powell’s first trip down the Colorado River because I love adventure; I’ve gone white-water rafting before and it’s fun; I think it would be cool to something no one else had ever done; etc OR No, I would not have liked to have gone on Powell’s first trip down the Colorado River because I don’t like boats/swimming/rapids; it was very dangerous to run the rapids; it would have been safer to go on his second trip because by then he already knew a lot about the river, etc (Accept any reasonable responses.) page 63 page 57 c d b True Of the 100,000 people who headed for the Klondike, only 40,000 made it there, and just 300 of those became rich from finding gold Food was included in the portable pantry because the miners had to bring their own food There was no real place to get food and other supplies in the wilderness So everything a miner needed had to be carried from civilization Dr Forrest was a dentist He was trying to get patients to take care of their teeth before going into the wilderness where there were no dentists to help them I would have chosen White Pass Trail because with one ton of supplies to carry, I would have wanted the help of a horse; I think it was easier to go the extra miles rather than climbing the Golden Stairs over and over; etc OR I would have chosen Chilkoot Trail because then I wouldn’t need to buy a horse; it was 12 miles shorter than White Pass Trail; I think it was safer than the other trail on ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc (cont.) d a d False Roggeveen lived nearly 200 years before Heyerdahl stated his theory And Roggeveen did not say how he thought Easter Island was populated He just reported what the people looked like Other archaeologists say that Heyerdahl tampered with evidence to make it fit his theory They also discounted his raft trip across the ocean because he was towed 50 miles out to sea to avoid the currents that would have trapped Tiki’s raft near the South American shore I believe that that the Rapa Nui came from other Polynesian islands They look like other Polynesians, and there is no real evidence that people from Peru ever visited Easter Island OR I believe that Easter Island was settled by people from Polynesia and people from Peru due to the similarities between the two groups, including spearheads, sweet potatoes, and the story of Kon-Tiki OR I believe that Easter Island was settled by the adult children of Basque sailors and Polynesian women because the Rapa Nui have Basque genes There’s no other way that they could have those genes Also, this theory is supported by Roggeveen’s reports of dark- and lightskinned people 109 #8374 Document-Based Questions Answer Key page 66 a b c True The first climbing attempt occurred in 1921 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit in 1953, which is 32 years later George Mallory tried to reach the peak in 1924 His body was found 75 years later in 1999 In 2003 the youngest climber (15-year-old girl) and the oldest climber (70-yearold man) set records by reaching the summit of Mount Everest Yes, I would like to try climbing Mount Everest because it sounds challenging and exciting; I like to push myself to achieve great things; I think it would be thrilling to stand on the tallest peak in the world; etc OR No, I would not like to try climbing Mount Everest because I am afraid of heights; a lot of people have died trying to climb the mountain; it sounds too dangerous; I hate the cold, etc (Allow reasonable responses.) page 69 c a c False Ellen MacArthur completed going around the world in her sailboat in February 2005 OR False Ellen MacArthur set out to go around the world in her sailboat in November 2004 There is a mesh filter inside the desalination pump that traps the salt particles Only the water can flow through this filter Yes, a desalination pump should be required on every ocean-going ship and boat That way if something goes wrong and the people get stuck at sea, they won’t run out of water to drink OR No, a desalination pump should not be required on every ocean-going ship and boat Large ships can carry all the fresh water they need And if a boat sunk, the person probably wouldn’t have time to save the desalination pump anyway page 72 d c a False No one received the prize money for discovering anesthesia because it was impossible for the U.S Congress to figure out to whom the money should go Four doctors had used anesthesia at different times so it was unclear who really “discovered” it According to the General Hospital patient brochure, there are three types of anesthesia used today There is general, regional, and local anesthesia With local anesthesia, only a part of the body is numbed, so the person never falls asleep Yes, the prize money for the discovery of anesthesia should have been divided equally among the four doctors because each played a part in discovering how to use #8374 Document-Based Questions (cont.) anesthesia on patients OR No, the prize money for the discovery of anesthesia should not have been divided equally among the four doctors because the prize was meant to reward one person There was no obvious “discoverer” of anesthesia page 75 b d c True Scientists can change genes in both plants and animals By doing so, they have made fruits grow larger and crops resist fungus They have also created bigger chickens and cows that give more milk Noah Grinder is against gene-altered foods because there have been no safety tests done to make sure the food is safe for people or animals; the BT toxin added to corn can kill good insects such as the Monarch butterfly and ladybug; new proteins are forming in the gene-altered plants that may cause allergies (Accept any two of these three reasons given in the letter) Yes, the government should ban gene-altered food because there are too many unanswered questions The lack of safety tests is scary What if the gene-altered food is bad for us? What if we kill off all the butterflies and ladybugs with the gene-altered corn? Until there are answers to these questions based on scientific research, gene altering should stop OR No, the government should not ban gene-altered food because it has allowed fruits and crops to be bigger and better and made farm animals like chickens and cows better at producing food There are people starving in the world We need all the improvements we can get to feed more people! page 78 c d b True Dr Eijkman was making no real progress until the chickens got the disease OR False When the chickens recovered from beriberi, it led to the discovery of thiamin Panothenic acid is a vitamin One of these multivitamin tablets has 13 vitamins and 19 minerals in it Yes, I think it’s important to take a multivitamin to keep from getting ill by giving my body what it needs to stay healthy Just look how important the vitamin thiamin was for the soldiers! OR No, I don’t think that it’s important to take a multivitamin every day I eat right, so I get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food If all I ate was junk food, then I’d need a multivitamin page 81 a d b True During the year after the first civilian used penicillin, half a million others were treated with it The newspaper article states that giving antibiotics when they are not needed is causing an increase in drug- 110 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Answer Key resistant bacteria This means that antibiotics no longer kill the germs Germs that don’t respond to drugs can spread and endanger many people Yes, due to the dangers of giving antibiotics when they aren’t needed, doctors should always tests to be sure that antibiotics are needed Creating drug-resistant germs can be deadly OR No, doctors should not always tests to be sure that antibiotics are needed The doctor needs to rely on his or her experience and knowledge rather than order tests Such testing would take up a lot of time and money Perhaps the doctor could tell the patient, “If it’s not better in X days, then I will write you a prescription.” That’s because the doctor would know that a virus would be over in that many days page 84 d c b False The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 in Egypt and the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947 in Israel Both the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Rosetta Stone show ancient writing and were found by accident in the hot, dry climate of the Middle East They also both date back to 200 B.C I think the Dead Sea Scrolls were the more important discovery because they are the oldest known Biblical manuscripts, and the Bible is more important than Egyptian hieroglyphics OR I think the Rosetta Stone was the more important discovery because it enabled scholars to finally read Egyptian hieroglyphics This let them learn more about Ancient Egypt page 87 b c a False In fact, each soldier can be told apart from the others Just 12 different molds were used to form the heads But eyes, noses, and hair were carved by hand to make each one unique The statues’ positions, arms, legs, and armor add variety, too In some cases the soldiers were holding wooden weapons They rotted over time Now all that is left is the soldiers’ hands positioned as if they are holding something Yes, I would like to travel to China to see the terracotta army for myself because I like to travel and see new things It sounds amazing, and I bet it would be unforgettable OR No, I would not like to travel to China to see the terracotta army for myself because I don’t really care about seeing it In my opinion, looking at photos is just as good and doesn’t take all the time, money, and travel I don’t like to fly, which is what I’d have to to get to China, etc (Allow reasonable responses.) ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc (cont.) page 90 a d c True The Great Pyramid at Giza was the tallest building on Earth for more than 4,300 years After his death King Khufu’s mummy was placed inside the Great Pyramid at Giza Then robbers broke into the Great Pyramid and took his mummy They also took all of the treasures buried with him No one knows where Khufu’s mummy is or if it even still exists Yes, Egyptian leaders should be concerned that only half of the nation’s adult population can read and write because the more educated the people are in a nation, the more wealthy the nation is Nations with people who can read and write have stronger economies and better industries than those with illiterate citizens OR No, Egyptian leaders should not be concerned that only half of the nation’s adult population can read and write because it is easier to control people who are not educated The leaders can tell them things and since they can’t read for themselves, they will just accept what they’re told OR No, Egyptian leaders should not be concerned that only half of the nation’s adult population can read and write because that is a higher percentage than most African nations page 93 d b c False The U.S had to offer prize money to encourage sailors to work on these ships The men hated the tropical diseases and the cruelty they saw on the slave ships The captain and officers stood trial in a U.S Federal Court The crew was put ashore at Monrovia, Liberia The ship was sold in America Yes, the Liberian government should insist that the people give up their ethnic languages and speak only English because it would unify the nation Having a common language would enable all citizens to communicate with each other instead of emphasizing their differences That is especially important now when the nation is still trying to recover from a civil war OR No, the Liberian government should not insist that the people give up their ethnic languages and speak only English because that would anger the people People want to speak the language they feel most comfortable with Many people know and speak multiple languages and it doesn’t cause any harm The Liberian government has bigger problems that it should address 111 #8374 Document-Based Questions Answer Key page 96 a b d False Mexico City is has more people living in it than some nations do! Almost 25 percent/one out of every four Mexicans live there The ad states that there will be a special show called “Mexico, Land of Mountains and Mayas” on the Knowledge Channel It will air on Thursday, November at p.m Yes, I would like to watch the television show about Mexico because it looks interesting; I’d like to find out more about the Day of the Dead/wild sapodilla tree/huge stone heads, silver mines; I’d like to know more about the nation because it is our neighbor; etc OR No, I would not like to watch the television show about Mexico because it doesn’t look interesting; I already know a lot about Mexico and probably wouldn’t learn anything new from the show; I don’t like watching that kind of program I don’t like watching TV; etc (Allow reasonable responses.) page 99 c d a True When enemies have threatened to invade the nation, the Dutch have opened the dikes and flooded their country on purpose They did this to prevent others from taking over The five tourists attractions listed in the travel brochure are the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, a working diamond factory, an old working windmill, and the royal palace I would most like to see the Anne Frank House because I have heard about her and would like to see the place where she hid and wrote her famous diary I would most like to see the Van Gogh Museum because I love paintings I would most like to go to a working diamond factory because diamonds are so sparkly and valuable It would be interesting to see how they were cut I would most like to see an old working windmill because I’ve always wanted to know how one worked I would most like to see the royal palace because it sounds beautiful and elegant and I like old buildings (Allow reasonable responses.) If I lived in the Netherlands, I would rather use a bicycle because it would be better for the environment and cost a lot less money Cars put pollution into the air and gas costs a lot of money So using a bicycle would make good sense OR If I lived in the Netherlands, I would rather use a car because I don’t like riding a bike; a car gets you places much faster; it is easier to carry packages (like bags of groceries) in a car; you can take your whole family in a car; etc OR If I lived in the Netherlands, I #8374 Document-Based Questions (cont.) would use a car during the winter months when the roads would be slippery and it would be cold riding a bike During the summer months, I would use a bike to save money and get exercise page 102 c a d False Allied forces included the United Nations, American, and South Korean troops Three years passed between June 1950 when North Korean troops invaded South Korea, and the ceasefire was signed in June 1953 In March 1953, the Communists and Allies exchanged their ill and injured prisoners Seoul was under Communist control for two months from January 1951 to March 1951 Yes, American leaders should be concerned about North Korea testing nuclear missiles because they may want to launch an attack against the United States Nuclear weapons can cause massive damage and many deaths OR No, American leaders should not be concerned about North Korea testing nuclear missiles because they are across the ocean and probably not in a good position to attack the United States And if they shot a nuclear missile at America, the United States would shoot one back at them, so they wouldn’t gain anything North Korea may just want nuclear weapons so that other nations view it as a power to be reckoned with page 105 b d a False Nunavut Arctic College has five campuses where the people can go to college There are three national parks in Nunavut One is the second biggest national park in Canada Although lots of tourists visit these national parks, only the Inuit can hunt in them I would prefer to visit Nunavut in January because I enjoy winter sports like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and ice skating It would be cold enough so that I could all these things OR I would prefer to visit Nunavut in July because the low temperatures in January are too extreme for me I don’t like the cold! Also, I think it would be easier to get around and see the territory in the summer time when it stays light for so many hours each day 112 ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc ... Created Resources, Inc #8374 Document- Based Questions Introduction Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy The questions on the assessment practice pages in Document- Based Questions for Reading Comprehension... standardized testing The students respond to the document- based questions based on the information gleaned from the passage plus its related document Such questions improve a student’s ability to apply... 52 #8374 Document- Based Questions ©Teacher Created Resources, Inc Introduction About This Book The primary goal of any reading task is comprehension Document- Based Questions for Reading